US News Maryland court to hear bid for new trial in 'Serial' murder case

14:15 08 june 2017

14:15 08 june 2017 Source:
Reuters

Jury in Rolf Harris trial discharged

The jury in the trial of TV star Rolf Harris has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on four indecent assault charges. The jurors had deliberated for just under five hours at London's Southwark Crown Court over allegations Harris, 87, had indecently assaulted three teenage girls.But they were discharged by Judge Deborah Taylor after failing to reach a verdict on any of the charges.The youngest of the girls was 13 at the time of the alleged assault, with the four charges relating to public events between 1971 and 1983.It had been a retrial for Harris on three of the four charges.

Defense lawyers for Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was called into question by the 2014 podcast " Serial ," will face off with Maryland prosecutors on Thursday to argue over A Baltimore judge ordered a new trial in June 2016 after the popular podcast cast doubt on evidence in the case .

Baltimore: Adnan Syed's bid for a new trial gained more momentum on Monday The Maryland Court of Special Appeals told a lower court to consider hearing sworn testimony from Adnan Syed was convicted of the murder in 2000. The case is now the subject of a popular podcast called ' Serial '.

Syed, 37, is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend and high school classmate, Hae Min Lee. A Baltimore judge ordered a new trial in June 2016 after the popular podcast cast doubt on evidence in the case.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh appealed the ruling. Oral arguments will be heard in Annapolis at the Court of Special Appeals, the state's second-highest tribunal.

Jury in Rolf Harris trial discharged

The jury in the trial of TV star Rolf Harris has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on four indecent assault charges. The jurors had deliberated for just under five hours at London's Southwark Crown Court over allegations Harris, 87, had indecently assaulted three teenage girls.But they were discharged by Judge Deborah Taylor after failing to reach a verdict on any of the charges.The youngest of the girls was 13 at the time of the alleged assault, with the four charges relating to public events between 1971 and 1983.It had been a retrial for Harris on three of the four charges.

BALTIMORE -- A defense lawyer's failure to call an alibi witness was a key point of contention as a convicted murderer returned to court Wednesday to argue he deserves a new trial in a case that gained fresh notoriety through the podcast " Serial ." A three-day hearing began in Baltimore for

No decision will be issued on Thursday. Syed, who remains in prison, will not attend.

The prosecutors' appeal argues that the Baltimore judge, Martin Welch, wrongly allowed new arguments over the reliability of cellphone location evidence that linked Syed to Lee's death.

Prosecutors also contest Welch's decision to vacate Syed's conviction because of poor legal representation. Prosecutors say Syed's lawyer, the late Cristina Gutierrez, had thoroughly challenged the cellphone evidence and that Syed had already waived his claim that she was ineffective.

"With or without corroborative cellphone data, the overwhelming evidence shows the jury's verdict was fair, reliable and correct," prosecutors said in their appeal.

Molly Martens dad's claim: I was told that Jason Corbett 'caused the death' of his first wife

<p>Murder accused Thomas Martens is set to tell the court that he was told Jason Corbett "caused the death" of his first wife.</p><p><br></p>Businessman Jason Corbett (39) was found beaten to death at his home at Meadowlands in Davidson County, North Carolina on August 2, 2015.

WATCH Maryland Judge Reopens ' Serial ' Murder Case . Lawyers for Adnan Syed argued at a court hearing for a new trial , and called a key witness who was featured in the podcast but was never called to testify during Syed's original trial .

Syed's lawyers say Gutierrez had declining skills when she defended him, in what was her last trial, and did not investigate a potential alibi witness. She agreed to be disbarred by the Court of Appeals in 2001 because of failing health, and died in 2004.

"The proper remedy is a new trial," the inmate's legal team said in a court filing.

The "Serial" podcast on Syed's case was released by public radio station WBEZ in Chicago and has been downloaded millions of times. The podcast raised questions about testimony from an acquaintance of Syed, who claimed Syed told him he planned to kill Lee and needed his help after the murder, and about phone calls that linked Syed to the crime.

The appeals court will issue a written opinion at a later date, the court said in a statement. The ruling could then be appealed to the Court of Appeals, Maryland's highest court.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis)

Irish man jailed for life by Swiss court after brutal murder of wife .
AN Irish man has been jailed for the murder of his wife, who he stabbed more than 60 times to stop her finding out about a probe into child sex offences. Harry Ringwood (50) was sentenced to life in prison by a Swiss court after pleading guilty to the murder, the Sun reports.Mr Ringwood stabbed his wife, Galina Shevechenko, at their apartment in the Swiss village of Lutry on March 23, 2015. The trial heard that Ms Shevechenko was on her way to the local police station, having been asked to attend an interview.

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'Serial' Case To Be Reviewed By Maryland Appeals Court

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Defense lawyers for Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction was called into question by the 2014 podcast " Serial ," will face off with Maryland prosecutors on Thursday to argue over A Baltimore judge ordered a new trial in June 2016 after the popular podcast cast doubt on evidence in the case .

Baltimore: Adnan Syed's bid for a new trial gained more momentum on Monday The Maryland Court of Special Appeals told a lower court to consider hearing sworn testimony from Adnan Syed was convicted of the murder in 2000. The case is now the subject of a popular podcast called ' Serial '.

BALTIMORE -- A defense lawyer's failure to call an alibi witness was a key point of contention as a convicted murderer returned to court Wednesday to argue he deserves a new trial in a case that gained fresh notoriety through the podcast " Serial ." A three-day hearing began in Baltimore for

WATCH Maryland Judge Reopens ' Serial ' Murder Case . Lawyers for Adnan Syed argued at a court hearing for a new trial , and called a key witness who was featured in the podcast but was never called to testify during Syed's original trial .